5 comments about Peak.

1. This book tells the story of a 14 year old named Peak. It is my FAVORITE BOOK ever!!! I've read it like 15 times and it is not boring. There is a lot of suspense, suprises, chapters that make me go WHYYYYYY????????? Chapters that are sad, happy, funny, loyal, but the whole book is reallllllly amazing. The storyline is great and the ending is sad but for the best.



2. I ordered the book, Peak, over a week ago and I have not yet received it. It was supposed to be delivered on 7/19-7/20/10 and it is now 7/23/10. The book is for a summer reading assignment and the lack of delivery timeliness is very disappointing. I will not order anything from group again. MB



3. My mom got me this book and I was not sure if I would like it. It turns out it is one of the best books I`ve ever read. It is a real page turner. Almost any 12 to 15 year old will love this book.



4. I liked the book, but sometimes the plot was just slow and I felt overwhelmed with info. But, overall, a good book that I would recomend.



5. Roland Smith did it again. He made an amazing novel named Peak. Peak is about a boy named Peak. Peak is famous climber Joshua Wood's son. Peak is about to face the challange of his life. Peak can be the youngest person on the summit of Everest!Only luck can help him now. My favorite part is when...oops I can't give that information. Peak has to defy the odds to win the challange. This was an amazing book. Everyone should read it. I give this 5 stars because it was packed with adventure and the author truly painted a picture in my mind.~Eagle

5 comments about The Daring Book for Girls.

1. I bought this book for my 10-year old granddaughter. She was really tickled and her parents were also very pleased and delighted. It has so many important, little things that we sometimes forget to pass on to our youth. This book was recommended after I bought my grandsons The Dangerous Book for Boys which they were ecstatic to receive. Two wonderful books, I highly recommend them both!



2. I'm 16 and I love this book! It has heaps of great info and is awesome for girls of all ages from 6 to 16.



3. My daughter saw this in the bookstore, and stated that she "reeeeaaaallllly" wanted it. She's a voracious reader, and just turned 8, so I kind of thought it would perfect. And it is! She reads it all the time, and refers to it just as much. She's learning, but in a fun way that she controls. All the stuff inside is pretty neat, and she frequently tells me things I don't know, all courtesy of the book. Her birthday was actually just a week ago, and this is so far and beyond her favorite possession, I actually had a cake decorator make her a cake that looked like the book, but instead of "The Daring Book for Girls", it said, "The Daring Cake for Gracie". She loved it!



4. I can only say how tremendously disappointed I was by this book! My son adores the Dangerous Book for Boys and I had high hopes that this book might rival it for my daughter. If one's only hopes for "daring" must entail tangling with the occult, it is a sad day for young girls everywhere! The book encourages girls to read tarot, play "Bloody Mary", and venture into other avenues of the occult. Somehow they managed to intersperse a few bits of fun with the objectionable material - we clipped out the section on hand jives before ripping off the cover and recycling the book. So disappointing!



5. I have been listening to this while at various airports around the country and I think it's very fun. Great to listen to and I think it'd be very empowering for the younger generation.

5 comments about Stone Fox.

1. This book brings to life the concept of believing in something, and then making it happen. When Willy's grandfather falls mentally ill, Willy does everything that he can to bring in the money needed to pay the government the owed taxes on his grandfather's farm, and arouse him from his depression. This is absolutely no small feat, as Willy must run the farm aided only by his trusted dog, Searchlight, and later enter into a dangerous race against an undefeated fierce opponent. Willy most do all this, and he is only ten years old!
   
   This book instills a firm sense of responsibility into its readers, and also has a "never die" spirit that has you at the end of your seat during the last few pages of the book.
   
   A great book for a book report.
   
   Darien Summers, author of The Mischievous Hare, a children's book. The Mischievous Hare



2. John Reynolds Gardiner, Stone Fox (Harper, 1980)
   
   Stone Fox has been on my to-read list since the beginning of 2009. When I finally got round to putting it on hold and picking it up from the library, I ended up having it out for twelve weeks. When I finally sat down to read it, it took me less than an hour. I have no idea what this means in the greater scheme of things, but it's got to mean something. Based on a Native American legend (according to its author's brief afterword), Stone Fox is a very short tale of a dog race in Wyoming in winter. Little Willy needs the prize money in order to save his grandfather's farm, and since he knows the route well, he's the local favorite. However, a Native American named Stone Fox and his team of dogs have never lost a sled race, and Willy will be going up against them. Fast-moving tale that could have been longer and not lost any of its luster at all; should be especially attractive to city kids who have never really been out in the places where you can't see a building from horizon to horizon. ***



3. I have shown the video of Stone Fox at school to my third grade class and I wanted the book so that we could read the book and compare it to the video. I am very pleased with the book. It was an easy read and entertaining.



4. This was my first time purchasing an item from Amazon. I was very happy with my purchase. The book arrived quickly and it was in great condition. No lines, No gas, No hassle. The perfect way to shop!!!



5. This is a very fast read. The story is engaging especially for kids 10-12 who want a good story but don't want one with too much description. Some of the story could be troubling to adults, but kids will accept the story's parameters. It begins with the mystery of why young Willy's grandfather is sick. It turns out that he has given up on life...but why? Willy finds out that his grandfather hasn't paid his taxes for 10 years and his debt now seems insurmountable and the tax man cometh. Willy is a likable character because he loves his grandfather and will do anything to help him get well. Adults may be upset that the old man doesn't seem to care about the fear he is putting the boy through. But Willy just begins to do what he can as his grandfather has always done for him. Willy discovers that there is a dog sled race in his town and the prize is just enough to pay off the tax bill. He can enter even though he only has one dog, Searchlight. But a famous Indian, Stone Fox, is also entering and he has never lost a race. There is a violent scene which is upsetting, but Willy comes to understand that Stone Fox has a very pressing reason to win the race too. What happens the day of the race is the greatest mystery in the book. The ending satisfies in many ways but it will be difficult for readers younger than about 10 to deal with.
   
   I recommend this book for ages 10-12 as I've said. I think it would make a better read between a parent and child so that the parent might bring out some nuances that would be hard for the child to understand.

5 comments about Tangerine.

1. I write on behalf of my son, who is too young to write a review, and anyway is asleep at this time of night! I want to say that he thoroughly enjoyed this novel about a disabled boy who wants people to treat him as fairly as anyone else. The main character overcomes his conditions to participate in many activities people would rather exclude him from. This novel was on a list of choices for the required summer reading assignment for our local school district, and I am happy my son chose this book out of 15 others. Teens and preteens who like soccer will love this book!



2. I originally picked up this book because of the awards it received that were listed on the back cover. I wondered if it really deserved all of those awards and decided to find out for myself if it was a great book.
   
   It is.
   
   In this unique, coming-of-age story, author Edward Bloor creates a realistic tale that is at once engaging, humorous and filled with great twists.
   
   Paul Fisher wants just one thing - to play soccer - and he's not about to let anything stop him. Not the fact that he is legally blind, not the fact that his father only supports older brother Erik's football dream (while all but ignoring Paul), and not even the fact that he must suddenly play on a team where the majority is the minority and his teammates are a rough bunch.
   
   Older brother Erik has always tormented Paul, but their parents don't see it . . . or they refuse to see it. As a reader, I was angered at what Erik gets away with, but Paul quietly accepts it - just as he quietly accepts the fact that he wears the Coke-bottle glasses that make him so different from everyone else. Another thing that only Paul seems to realize is that Tangerine County, Florida, (to where they have just moved) isn't well suited for human habitation. Not only do they now live in the lightning-strike capital of the United States, they are also plagued with sinkholes, muck fires and swarms of mosquitoes. As long as he's able to play soccer though, Paul will put up with a lot.
   
   Naturally, when Paul's opportunity to play soccer is yanked away, Paul is devastated, but then a sudden twist of fate presents Paul with a new chance to play - and a whole new set of challenges. As Paul bravely confronts the obstacles that come his way, his older brother's increasingly disturbing behavior causes events around Paul to slowly spiral out of control. Eventually Paul must find the courage to stop quietly accepting things and show others the truth that they have refused to see all along.



3. The book was purchased for my son who had to read it during the summer. He is enjoyng it. The seller got the product to me in a timely manner also.



4. I hated this book with all my hate. How I dicovered it, you ask? Well, it was in school Reading class, in the middle of the year. We were assigned for book clubs. My book club partner insisted a book about sports. I hate books about sports (or just sports in general, with the exception of baseball) , but he kept reccomending fictional sports books. I turned down all of the books, until one sparked my interest. That book was called 'Tangerine' by the author 'Edward Bloor'. It looked like my book at first, because the blurb was very pointed at mystery rather than sports. In fact, there was absolutely no mentions of sports whatsoever in the blurb, so I agreed, and took a crack at it.
   
   Big mistake.
   
   This awful excuse for a book was the most diabolical piece of garbage I have and most likely will ever read in my short life. How my partner had any idea that this was a sports book was and still is beyond my understanding. It just seems that he tricked me into reading a book with a topic I hate as the main topic itself. The book was too focused on sports rather than the mystery that is explained in the blurb. The characters were just plain bland, especially Erik. Who wants to read about an emotionless, talkless bafoon who does nothing but play football from 12:00 PM to 8:00 AM? No one I know, most likely, except for my book club partner, who shall remain unnamed throughout this review. There was almost no dialouge whatsoever in the book. None of the characers had a personality, not even the main character. The only decent characer in the book was probably Luis Cruz; He was possibly the only character that did anything in the entire book, and he sort of reminded me of myself. It's too bad that he had to *SPOILER ALERT* die in the book. My least favorite character was probably Dad, right up there with Erik. The Dad (just named Mr. Fisher, bland,) is an angry idiot with no personality whatsoever and only cares about Erik winning his football games. I have never seen a character as low as that in any work of fiction in my entire short years of life. Another decent characer was Joey Costello, and not because he has the same first name as me, but because he did anything it took to take care and stand up for he people he cared about. THAT is what I, and many oher people, call the work of a strong spirit and heart. I will say that the book had it's decent moments, when the time that Paul (the main character) thought up of something about 'a pissed off zombie' when he was lying in bed in the middle of the beggining of the book. The time were Erik *SPOILER ALERT* was accused of killing Luis Cruz was very suspensful. Other than that, the book was utter garbage. Not reccomended.
   
   2/5



5. For as long as he can remember, seventh-grader Paul Fisher has lived in the shadow of The Erik Fisher Football Dream. Ever since Paul's older brother Erik kicked his first successful 50 yard field goal, it seems to Paul that the entire Fisher household has revolved around Erik getting a football scholarship in hopes of one day advancing to the Pros. But there are two big things Paul just can't understand: 1) why everyone adores Erik, who he truly knows to be cruel and underhanded, and 2) why those same people are also in love with football. Now soccer, that is a sport Paul can get really get behind. Even though he happens to be legally blind, Paul is a talented goalie and is more than ready for the soccer season to begin at his new middle school in the town of Tangerine, Florida. Though, as usual, Paul is the first to notice that their seemingly idyllic planned community is not what it appears to be as natural disasters strike again and again and neighbors turn against one another; all while football and soccer games continue to be won. And lost.
   
   I can now fully understand why Tangerine is often embraced by educators. Its many themes could easily foster intriguing and highly relevant discussions in any classroom. Truly, it is astounding that such a small book could contain such a wide range of significant topics yet still remain so accessible to teens on a variety of levels. A list of themes discussed include clashes between the haves vs the have-nots, the impact of family relationships, the treatment of those with 'disabilities', environmental issues, race discrimination, and even bullying scenarios. And that's not even a comprehensive list. But even with its appeal to teachers, Tangerine can still readily resonate with any reader be they young or old, student or parent due to the honest and captivating narration of the observant Paul. His voice is clear, insightful, and above all, entertaining. A hero with coke-bottle glasses and courage to spare. I'm glad I found room on my shelves for Paul Fisher and Tangerine. It's one I'll be sure to share with my own son. Even if I have to wait a few more years to read it with him.

5 comments about Forged By Fire.

1. Forged by Fire is the third Sharon Draper novel that I read for a Young Adult Literature class that I am currently taking. Of the three, this one is my favorite by far! There were several parts of the story that evoked tears from me as I was reading. Gerald's story could be the story of any teenage boy in this cruel and increasingly harsh world. Certain episodes, like the one from Chapter One or the very last instance, are the stuff of today's news headlines. Unfortunately, Gerald's story happens all too often, and that is what brought me to tears while reading. Some of the reviews complain that Draper appeared to cram too many events into the end of the story. I think that this was one of the most endearing features of Forged by Fire. Think about it: Would you really want an author to go into superfluous details about drug abuse, untimely death, depression, and child molestation? I think Draper did an excellent job of accelerating the plot, so that the reader could get a true sense of what Gerald was dealing with both throughout his young life and all at once. I would definitely recommend this novel to a more mature young adult or any person who is interested in experiencing young adult literature.



2. This book is about Gerald, a three year old who burned up his house and had to live with his Aunt Queen. She died so he had to live with his mom when she got out of jail. The hero of the story is Gerald because he saves his sister from his step-dad. The villain of the story is Jordan, the step-dad. He beats his kids and laughs at them when he does it. The main problem is that Gerald's step-dad is doing things to Gerald's baby sister, Angel.
   
   I think this was a very nice book. These books have real life things in them. I wouldn't recommend them to 3rd to 5th graders because there is too much violence. I think this book would rate 5 stars. I would rate it 5 because things in this book happen to kids around the world. I think this book deserves at least 5 stars!



3. I recently finished Sharon Draper's Forged By Fire. Being a college student, at first I thought that this book was somewhat juvenile to be on my reading list for a Diversity in Education class, but I soon realized that I was wrong. Though the book is not by any means a hard read, it addresses some truly mature issues such as abuse, molestation, and death. Forged By Fire was written appropriately for its age group, considering that the age group it was designed for (6th-9th graders) has a shorter attention span than an adult. The book moves at a very fast pace, and definitely piques the reader's interest in what is going to evolve next in the plot. It does seem a bit rushed, where in the beginning the main character is only three and by the end he is nearly eighteen, but I feel that this is just the author's way of keeping the audience's attention, which she did very well; I could not put this book down. I finished it in two hours. Its syntax is easy to understand and it has clear and concise dialogue as well as implied meanings. As I mentioned earlier, though the writing itself was not challenging, the issues that were addressed in the book are definitely not your average easy read for teens. The characters face some real-life problems that may unfortunately be present in some of the reader's own homes. Though she didn't go into much detail about the abuse and molestation, she didn't need to. The implied thoughts and meanings were quite possibly worse than if the author had written them herself. This book opened my eyes to what some children go through and I feel blessed that I have never had to address the subject of abuse before, while many others, much younger than me, have. I hope that this book may aid some of its readers in understanding that abuse and molestation should not and cannot be tolerated and hopefully it has helped define a clear understanding of right and wrong. Though the writing style may be juvenile, the message is not: No child, or person, should ever be subject to abuse. The book served its intended purpose, which was to get the attention of the age group that seems to be under attack from predators. I liked the fact that at the end of the book, there were several help hotlines for people who may have been abused or have known of some sort of abuse to someone else. I hope that it has inspired some readers to take action and call those hotlines if ever need be. I recommend this book to anyone, especially to new teachers, like myself, who may have to face the horrific reality of abuse in a student's home.



4. I was horrified by this book. I am a parent - a responsible parent. My daughter is in 7th grade and brought this home as an assignment for black history month. As a proud black man, I was excited to see something different coming home. So, I was shocked to see that the teacher would assign this book as a way to expose studetns to black history. She apparently believes that the black experience in America consists of strung-out drug using mothers, random men in and out of the home, child abandonment, and child sexual molestation and perversion. HOW DARE THE AUTHOR PORTRAY THIS!! The only positive person is a white guy?!?
   Our children need role models and heroes!! WHite kids get Harry Potter and Anne Shirley and we get abusive pedaphiles?
   Parents -- read it first. Have a discussion about how to get out of bad situations. Talk about the importance of telling.



5. The title of this book is called Forged by Fire written by Sharon M. Draper. This book is about how a young boy grew up in an abusive home and how he survived. Wow this book is great. I loved the theme to the story and basically everything else to this book. It was just beyond amazing.
   Gerald, the main character in the book, was a young man that has been abused through out his childhood. It started very young with his mother Monique. Even though his mother abused him and was addicted to drugs Gerald still loved his mother dearly. One night Gerald's mother left to go see Mr. Leroy who happens to be her drug dealer. Gerald was all alone at his house. After a while Gerald started to get impatient and found something to entertain him. He grabbed his mom lighter which he called the "Little Red Soldier" and played with that and his G.I. Joe toy. Minutes pass as he plays with the lighter and toy. Then all the sudden the house was on fire. Aunt Queen was closest to Gerald and began raising Gerald from three years old on to nine years old. Between those years Gerald seemed to have the happiest moments of his life. When Gerald's aunt died he moved in with his mom, his half sister, and his new step father. After a while Jordan his step father started to abuse Gerald and the rest of the family. The abuse goes on for a while but you would now have to read the story to know the end.
   One of my favorite quotes from this story is "Of course he has a father! Don't you have a father?" I like this quote a lot because it is sarcastic and funny. Many people ask this question and it's so stupid because everyone has a father. There's not one human in this world that doesn't have a father.
   The theme to this book is family. Family is so important and you must love your family unconditionally no matter how much drama you are going through.
   Forged by fire has quite a few conflicts. The major conflict in this book is Jordan, because Jordan is always trying to beat on the whole family, and it makes it hard for Monique and her children to be a healthy family while Jordan is around.
   I think people should read this book because; it teaches good life values and makes you think about how much you take your life for granite. The best type of audience for this book would be pre-teens, teens, and young adults. Even my mom read this book and she liked it. If I were to rate this book between a 1 through 5, I definitely would say a 5. The author Sharon m. Draper has written other books too such as; Battles of Jericho, November Blues, and there's much more.

5 comments about The Cardturner.

1. I don't really like HOLES or SMALL STEPS but THE CARDTURNER is a great book and my favorite. I recomend any one who wants to read a book read this book. I wish louis sachar could wright more books like this!



2. Like a few other reviewers, I generally don't novels with overly technical passages, which is why I appreciated the whale symbol [which invites you to skip over the technical part and go straight to the boxed short summary]. However, this was the coolest novel ever. The premise was original and was carried through pretty elegantly. The characters were funny and complex, and Alton [the main character] was a really great main character [as was Lester]. Even though this was marketed to teen/YA readers, I think it would work well for adults. I was impressed with the novel's subtlety, and I'd like to re-read it soon.



3. This story is great for kids and adults. Louis has done it again. I have been giving this story to my friends who play bridge and they love it. The tale begins with a young man who is bored and decides to take a summer job as a cardturner for a blind bridge player who happens to be his uncle. His uncle is so adept at playing bridge he only needs to hear the cards in his hand once and can figure out every thing else as the cards are dropped. The summer goes along and then magical coincidences start occurring. It is very sweet and funny.



4. Well, I didn't expect to like this book and frankly if it had been written by anyone other than Sachar I can't believe it would have gotten published. A book about bridge for teenagers? My 15-year old daughter couldn't believe any teenager would find it interesting. Sachar's a bridge nut himself, and I think he was hoping to make some converts from this story. I expected to be bored to tears, but I should have known better. However, I would have liked the story much better with the long bridge parts taken out, especially since I listened to it on audiobook and basically zoned out during those parts. Still, I couldn't help liking the story of a 17-year old boy who "turns cards" for his blind great-uncle at bridge games--a very rich uncle that his not-so-rich family hopes to inherit money from. There's a secondary story about why the great-uncle had stopped playing bridge for many years that involves Nixon, senators, insane asylums, beautiful women, and, since this is a YA book, a romantic interest--in this case a schizophrenic young girl that becomes the boy's bridge partner.
   
   While I bet most libraries will buy this book because it's by Sachar, I see it as having a very narrow appeal. Still, I'm sure it will capture some kids' interest. Whether or not they will start playing bridge as a result I can't say, however.



5. I love Sachar's Holes. So I was expecting a similiar reading experience with "The Cardturner". I was actually looking forward to learning a little about Bridge as well. The story concept seemed orginal. However, with the amount of Bridge talk and bridge subplots, it was an over kill!! I would have to say, at least two thirds of the story was about bridge play. I found myself skipping almost entire chapters, just to get to the main plot line between Alton (the nephew), Trapp (the great uncle), and the mysterious Toni (potential love interest). There were also failed opportunities to develop Alton's parents. They seemed very one-sided. No depth. According to Alton's point of view, they seemed to be just money hungry self-interested individuals. Although, Alton's mom sometimes seemed to be in the fence with her true feelings/interest toward her uncle Trapp; at the end it was all about the money. Also, Alton's little sister was also a great miss. What an interesting character who could have been exploited in so many ways. Sachar never gave her a chance to even meet and interact with her uncle Trapp; two strong personalities, would have loved to see sparks fly with both of them in the same room.
   
   So you have some subtext and a little mystery about Trapp's past and about Toni's family history, but again, any character development or subplot developments between flashback storylines or present dramatic action between Alton and Toni kept on being interupted by massive sections in every chapter about "BRIDGE". Instead of a story about mental illness and domestic violence, this was a book about BRIDGE. Yes Sachar, we get it: YOU LOVE BRIDGE! Fortunately, with Sachar's quick pacing skills: each chapter was very short (just a few pages long each), made it easy enough to chug along and skim through all the bridge stuff, just to get to the essential story line; which accounted for about 1/3 of the book.
   
   Also, the narrator: Alton, seemed like he was writing his memoir and addressing himself to the reader. I kept wondering what was the point of Alton, a teenager, in writing a memoir. For a moment, I thought Sachar was doing a SALINGER/CATCHER IN THE RYE type of narration scheme. I thought perhaps Alton was going to become famous for being the youngest Bridge Player to win a tournament or something, and in doing so that was his purpose for writing his autobiography. Or that at the end, Alton was going to be the one with some mental illness and so he was writing his memoir as a sort of self-therapy... But at the end, it meant nothing. Just a writing convention.
   
   PS. The ending too was far-fetched & predictable. Expected more from Sachar.
   
   Sad to say, I don't recommend this book, unless you are really interested in learning, breathing, sleeping, and living "Bridge". Otherwise, skip it and read Sachar's "HOLES" instead if you haven't read it already. :(

5 comments about The Contender.

1. Robert Lipsyte's novel, The Contender, is written for pre-teens and struggling students. The story is about Alfred Brooks, a young Harlem teen who works at a grocery store and discovers boxing through Donatelli, a successful coach. Until then, Alfred has dropped out of high school at 11th grade to work a dead-end job at family owned supermarket in Harlem. It's not until his friends Henry and James get in trouble that he decides to take up boxing with Donatelli who sees a contender much like the film, On the Waterfront starring Marlon Brando as a man who could have been a contender. Alfred's story can relate to the youth today and it's not so much about winning as it is about getting in shape and striving for something. Alfred begins his journey to be a boxer by training himself with Donatelli's help and belief in him to be the next contender despite all the risks of physical damage. It's not until Alfred starts striving to become a boxer that he becomes more alive in character and somebody to root for in life.



2. the author of this book is a fantastic writer, but this book overall was nothing special. i was forced to read it for my 7th grade adv. Lang. arts class, and was a little disapointed. I ended up being bored to tears in class ,and got the cliff notes. I think I would have enjoyed the book better if I read it myself not in a classroom. I think it deserves 3 stars. Its ok thats it. It is about how a boy can change his life by taking up boxing. Good luck if you have to read it (=



3. The streets of Harlem are a nasty place to live. Drugs, alcohol, and stealing are just a few of the problems that you would face if you lived there. This is where Alfred Brooks is living. He lives in a small apartment with his aunt Pearl and his three younger cousins. He is a high school dropout and is having trouble keeping his current low-paying job at the local grocery store. His only true friend, James, is slowly sinking into drug trouble.
   Things aren't looking up for him, to say the least. After some close brushes with the cops and some vicious thugs, he decides he needs to do something to change his life. Finally, he makes his way to a boxing gym on a street corner, not far from where he lives. Alfred has passed the gym before, but he has never gone in. From that moment on, he decides he wants to become a boxer.
   In The Contender, the writer really brought me into the story and made me feel like I was right there with the characters. He uses real-life type language and real-life situations that make sense. All of the characters that he introduces flow well with the plot and I became attached to them.
   I recommend this book to anyone who is even remotely interested in sports and the struggle to reach the pinnacle of your athletic ability. I give this book five stars.



4. Set in Harlem in the 1960s, The Contender is a moving story about a 16 year old named Alfred Brooks who lives with his aunt and cousins in a small, dingy apartment. His father has long since disappeared, his mother died of pneumonia, and Alfred, essentially a very good kid, has made some mistakes. He dropped out of high school and now works sweeping floors in a grocery store. His best friend James hangs out with thugs and drug users and is quickly becoming an addict himself. One evening when Alfred goes looking for James he finds him at the usual hangout of him and his thug buddies. While talking, Alfred lets it slip that the grocers he works for, the Epsteins, leave money in the cash register overnight on Fridays while they observe the Sabbath. The thugs, and Alfred's best friend James, decide to rob the grocery store. What Alfred forgets to tell them is about the new alarm system recently installed. So of course, after they are caught and arrested, and eventually bailed out, they come looking for Alfred. One night while they're chasing Alfred he runs into Donatelli's Gym, a boxing club where fighters train. And this begins Alfred's journey into fighting, not just boxing, but fighting to make something of himself when the odds are against him. Realistic and gritty, this novel is a wonderful book for young adults. I have read it many times with 7th and 8th grade, and 10th and 11th grade, language arts students and they love it, whether they are themselves from inner-city neighborhoods in Harlem or the Bronx, or from the suburbs. The consistent theme running through the story is the importance of striving to make something of yourself, to become a contributing member of society. It is extremely well written and a novel I enthusiastically recommend.



5. This story is about a teenager named Alfred Brooks, and in the book he is simply trying to make a life for himself. He dropped out of High School, and he's working at a grocery store. To make things even worse, his friend is turning to drugs and he is getting harassed by a group of guys. Alfred decides to go to Donatelli's gym, because he wants to become a champion, a boxer.
   
   My english class read this book, and I enjoyed it. I think you should read the book, and maybe it'll make you think about reaching the goals of becoming a champion.
   [...]

5 comments about The Best Part of Me: Children Talk About Their Bodies in Pictures and Words.

1. I was a bit disappointed in this book. I loved that the children were encouraged to write about a part of themselves they were particularly proud of, however, many of the entries weren't especially notable. My favorite was the last one about the girl's hands. That was exquisite!



2. I shared this book with my third grade class in the beginning of the year. Each double page spread has a child's writing (best self-edited) and a black and white photo. Since the writers were close to their ages, they could model their own writing after the writing in the book. Each child chose their "best part" to write about and then posed for a picture of their hair, feet, etc. I used a digital camera to take black and white photos. The lack of color really emphasized their work. These are now mounted on their lockers for all to see and I have never had as many comments on student writing. This book could inspire writers of many ages.



3. Great book. What an easy way to get children involved with writing associated with literature. Not only does The Best Part of Me expose children to engaging prose, which they can relate to, it also gets them thinking about what they might say about their own bodies. This is an easy and instant writing project for any classroom, K-12, and the end project creates a terrific bulletin board. The book is worth every cent.



4. My wife, Marilyn, did a Best Part of Me project with one of the classrooms she consults with. The children who wrote and the shildren and adults who saw the photos and the writing about them were engaged.

   Wendy Ewald is an amazing person who uses a camera as a way to learn.




5. Immediate, poetic & bright this big book brings you up close & personal with children's feet, hands, eyes, backs, hair, elbows in award-winning Wendy Ewald's magical photos.

   The poems penned by these 15 youngsters are funny & eloquent, touching & proud. As is usual with children, it's more about what they don't say as much as it is about what they do.

   Bound to get kids thinking about what they like about their bodies, might even get them writing little ditties about it too! A must in a classroom or school library!

   The poems & black & white photos in THE BEST PART OF ME are drawn from Literacy Through Photography, a program Wendy Ewald originated in the public schools of Durham, North Carolina.

5 comments about In the Year of the Boar and Jackie Robinson.

1. My nine year old granddaughter, who is going into 4th grade, had a summer book reading assigment about an individual or family of another culture. This book held her interest and encouraged her to learn more about China. It also reiterated the mores that she is taught at home and school. Before giving my granddaughter any book I read it first to make sure that it is good, and it gives us common ground for literary discussions. I was delighted to find that I enjoyed it myself. I would recommend this book very highly.



2. I did not read this. It was assigned with SonLight homeschool curriculum. After hearing my daughter answer the comprehension questions, I intend to read it quickly. We both related to the character Shirly since I'm a Korean adoptee and my daughter's eyes look similar to mine. She truley enjoyed it. There's not a lot of action so boys may find it dull.



3. I think the product is very interesting but goes a little to far in feeling bad for main character Shirley Temple Wong/Bandit. Now the very optimistic things about the story, first off, it teaches children about baseball legend Jackie Robinson in his roll for the famous baseball team the Dodgers, and Shirley's love for baseball in the middle of the story.It also has some moderate violence and starred inappropriate language. Other than that, it is a great novel which involves new wording and language that takes kids reading and vocabulary skills to the next level. The book is 1-170 pages long.



4. This is a wonderful story of a young Chinese girl who immigrates to the US with her mother in 1947.
   
   The story is just great - it is rich with historical detail, and the main character is completely lovable. The reader gets a very realistic picture of what life was like for a young immigrant at that time.
   
   The book is also hilarious - the author is a gifted story teller who has a brilliant sense of humor.
   
   Cautious parents may want to know that there is one scene in the book [in the chapter "Secrets"] where the main character is coerced by a friend into keeping a secret from her parents. While, in the end, the "secret" turns out to be something relatively harmless [and ridiculous], parents may want to discuss with their children why it is never a good idea to keep a secret from the adults who care for them.
   
   Over all, this is a fantastic book, a joy to read, and was fun for our whole family.



5. Jackie Robinson and the Year of the Boar is an OK book. It shows how life was for an immigrant in the 1940's. It also gives you a taste of how Jackie Robinson felt to cross the racial line.
   He and Bandit, or Shirley Temple, had something in common. He held his head up high even when there were threats to take his life, and Shirley did the same, while facing the bullying of her school.
   This book also showed, how even if you're mistreated in the beginning, you can still make friends in the end. Shirley made friends with Mable, while she was getting teased. She was also praised with the following chant:
   "Hey, Hey you're just great,
   Jackie Robinson crossed the plate,
   Hey, Hey you're a dream,
   Jackie Robinson's on our team."
   This book didn't personally intrigue me, but it is perfect for kids who love baseball. Taylor grade 5

5 comments about Slam!.

1. donated this book to a school library from their requested list, haven't read it, but service/price/delivery was good



2. May 5, 2010: Slam, by Walter Dean Myers is an amazing book that talks about a kid from the streets in harlem, who can do it all on the basketball court. He has the talent to rise from his poor neighborhood and onto something greater, but he struggles off the court as a result of his short temper and low grades. I think the author was looking to teach the young teens reading this book to make the right decisions and that if you put your heart and soul into anything, you can become whatever it is you desire. People should really read this book because it inspires you to work on what you really love and try to become something above average. This book also shows a common African American teen, with both parents, and a younger brother, that look up to him, having to look out from getting hooked to drugs everyday. The story just absorbs you and make very real and strong connections with your own life. But what I liked the most about this short novel is that is had a piece of everything a novel has. It has action, as there are several exciting games described in the book as there is romance as Slam falls in love, but then is still attracted to other young girls. It has problems a kid from the street usually has, like having to deal with friends that do things that are illegal things like dealing drugs, and choosing to stay away from friends like that. Finally, it shows social acceptance as Greg Harris is transferred to a new "rich" school so he can play basketball there. In conclusion, this is one of the best basketball books I have ever read and I recommended to everybody who loves basketball, a novel with everything a person who loves the sport would want and then some. I really look up to Walter Dean Myers and his ability to turn a game and write it in such a way that you will not put the book down until the last page and then wanting to go practice on your game.So you should go read the book today, i got inspired and you'll be too.



3. Slam, written by Walter Dean Myers, is about a seventeen year old boy who loves basketball, his family, friends and his girlfriend. What he doesn't love is his basketball coach, his math teacher, and the fact that his best friend Ice may be a drug dealer. How does Slam deal with all this? As you read the book you realize the effects that Slam's environment have had on his attitudes about school, basketball, and his life. In his words Slam describes his neighborhood; "In the morning you don't hear any police sirens or ambulances. It is like all the shooting and chasing is over for the night and the neighborhood is getting ready for a new day" (page 3). Greg Harris, nickname Slam, lives in Harlem, the inner city of New York. He is growing up in a neighborhood where drugs, violence, and neglect have challenged Slam to make some serious decisions about his life. He knows that he does not want to end up like the people he sees everyday addicted to drugs and alcohol, and he has seen how violence just puts you in prison. Slam is fortunate because he has a mother and father at home to raise him. His dad is often out of work and has a drinking problem but at least he is there. He lives with his parents and his nine- year old brother Derek in a small apartment. Slam's life also takes place at Latimer High School where he is a student and on the basketball team. The high school is a Magnet school located in the Bronx. Magnet means that kids from all over the city can come to this school. It has a good reputation. Slam loves to play basketball and he gets his nickname from slamming the ball into the rim. When Slam tries out for his high school basketball team he has a conflict with the coach. He knows he is he best player on the team but the coach never starts him in the games. This frustrates Slam because he hopes basketball maybe his ticket out of "the hood". He has even hoped for a scholarship to a good college. Slam challenges his coach to a "one on one" and beats his coach and finally coach sees how good Slam is. Slam listens to his assistant coach Goldy who spends a lot of his time trying to help Slam. One day Goldy told Slam "the only difference between on the court and off the court is that everybody is in the game off the court"(page 218). Goldy was saying that school, basketball, and friends were all about Slam's life. Slam was only hurting himself with his bad attitude. He needed to be a team player both on and off the court. Slam's conflict is within himself. He has grown up in the inner city where he has seen things that have left him angry and confused.



4. The reasons for my love of this book would be the way it is easy to read, very easy to relate to, and talks about one of my favorite sports basketball. This book teaches you how to cross over, shoot, fade, spin move and even more! This book really helped me become a better person and gave me something else to do besides video-games. I love this book and will read this book forever and ever. Thanks Walter Dean Myers for another great book!



5. Slam is a amazing book. It is a book about a boy who has to overcome a lot of challenges in his life like his grandma is constantly in the hospital, he is almost failing out of school, his girlfriend and him have constant problems, and his best friend ice is a drug dealer. The one thing in the world that he loves to do is play basketball. He is the best player on his varsity team as a sopohmore and needs to get a scholarship because his mom can't pay for him to go to college. This book is a thriller about a boys life and it shows a good amount of "hood" words like "the pill" referring to the basketball and others. Overall this is an amazing peace of literature.